What you should know about Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine curves sideways, which is not normal. The spine is normally s-shaped when looked at from the side, but when looking from behind the spine should be straight. A scoliosis curvature is often shaped like the letter S or C, and the spine is sometimes also twisted. It can start in early childhood but may go unnoticed, especially as it rarely causes problems in the early years. Parents may see an uneven waist or shoulders, particularly prominent shoulder blades or shoulders, elevated hips or leaning to one side. The rib cage can also become more prominent on one side, this becomes more evident if you ask the person to bend forward whilst observing them from behind.  Scoliosis can be caused by back pain, muscle spasm, differing leg lengths, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis or appendicitis. Itcan be evident in families so I strongly recommend regular check ups from childhood.